Sharing Our Stories - An Act of Generosity

©2020 Jennifer Otto and Eileen DeLorenzo     

Jennifer and Eileen will be presenting their workshop "A Bicycle Built for Two: The Balancing Act That Is Tandem Telling" at Sharing the Fire 2020. Register today at https://www.nestorytelling.org/conference-details/

“Hallo.”

“Hello. Can I help you?”

“Is this your house?”

This was my first story swap at Northlands regional storytelling conference. From those first lines of the story to the end, I was enamored with the pig in Jennifer’s story, “How the Pig Came to Stay at My House.” For almost a year, her contemporary folktale held a spot in my brain as a story I needed to tell. When I finally emailed Jennifer, asking for permission, she generously emailed me the story. It was a hit in local elementary schools.

The regional storytelling conference rolled back around. Excited to be back and still in the glow of a well-received story freshly in my repertoire, I met Jennifer in the hall going into the restroom.

“Hello.” I chimed out in my best Pig voice.

Jennifer raised one eyebrow, “What? What’s that?”

“That’s the Pig from your story.”

“That’s not my Pig. That’s your Pig.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.”

“How does your Pig say, Hello?”

“Hallo.”

“That doesn’t sound right.”

“That’s my Pig.”

“I’ve been telling your story thinking it was with your Pig when it was actually my Pig!”

“We all have an inner Pig.”

Indeed, personal epiphanies can come in the most unexpected places. This encounter set us on a fun-loving path of friendship and partnership as tandem tellers.

Stories need to go out into the world. Standing by this belief, Jennifer shared her story. In its own course, it made its way back to her. “The Pig” became the first story we would tell as tandem tellers.

This is what happened at one regional storytelling conference. Who knows what might happen at Sharing the Fire!

About Jennifer: Jennifer Pahl Otto creates original stories for children and adults, always with a unique point of view and a distinctive voice, quirky and kind. She tells her stories at schools, nature centers, storytelling festivals and conferences, and other public events. Mead Hill has published four books of her children’s stories. https://jenniferpahlotto.wixsite.com/jennifer-pahl-otto

About Eileen: A mid-Michigan storyteller, Eileen DeLorenzo enjoys telling stories to audiences of all ages. Her love of story within the art of creating images, and the shared dynamics between teller and listener fuel her warm and lively performances. A professional storyteller, Eileen performs at schools, libraries, community engagements, organizations, and Tellabrations! www.eileendelorenzo.com